Jiří Slíva

* 4th July, 1947

Jiří Slíva is Czech artist and poet. He devotes his work to humor, lithographs and book illustrations.
He writes poetry for children.

After finishing studies in economics at the University of Prague, he worked for 8 years as a sociologist. Slíva's first published drawings appeared in 1972. Since 1979, he has devoted his full time to cartooning, graphic art, illustration and painting. He has produced 10 cartoon books, published in Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, France and the USA.
His drawings have appeared in over 150 books, numerous Czech newspaper and in international journals such as Die Zeit, Stern, New York Times, Nebelspalter, Die Welt, Los Angeles Times.

He makes also colour litographs, etchings and oil paintings. His graphic humor is usually built on a paradox - position other serious and common themes in unexpected contrasts.